Friday, September 11, 2015

21st Century Socialism . . .

Venezuela long ago became a one-party state, but its lawlessness keeps getting worse. On Friday a Venezuelan court found 44-year-old opposition leaderLeopoldo Lópezguilty of a trumped up charge of inciting violence and sentenced him to nearly 14 years in prison. . . Like South Africa’sNelson Mandela,Mr. López is becoming a powerful political symbol from his prison cell. . . .

Congressional elections are scheduled for December and polls say that in a fair contest Mr. López and the opposition would thump Mr. Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela. With growing food shortages, increasing violent crime and hyperinflation, Mr. Maduro might still have to cancel or rig the election to avoid losing control of the unicameral legislature. But that could spark widespread social unrest—which is why Mr. López remains in prison.